How much FPS will I gain from optimising NVIDIA Control Panel?

Expect 5-15% higher in-game FPS in typical AAA titles after applying the 12 key settings — and a more consistent frame time (smoother feel) on top of the raw FPS gain. The biggest single setting is Power Management Mode set to 'Prefer Maximum Performance' which alone delivers 3-7% on every game. Combined with Low Latency Mode set to 'Ultra' and Threaded Optimisation 'On', you'll see meaningful improvements without changing any in-game settings.

What is the most important NVIDIA Control Panel setting?

Power Management Mode set to 'Prefer Maximum Performance' (instead of the default 'Optimal Power'). This single change keeps the GPU at higher clock speeds during gameplay and delivers 3-7% more FPS in every game — significantly more on title that quickly load and unload assets. The default Optimal Power setting is great for battery life on laptops but costs free performance on desktop builds plugged into mains power.

Should I use NVIDIA Control Panel or NVIDIA App?

Both — they handle different things. NVIDIA Control Panel for global 3D settings, display setup (G-Sync, HDR, resolution), and per-game profile overrides. NVIDIA App (which replaces GeForce Experience) for driver updates, in-game overlay, ShadowPlay recording, Game Filters and streaming. The NVIDIA App also has Optimal Settings per game — useful as a starting point but the Control Panel overrides give you finer control.

What does Low Latency Mode Ultra do?

Low Latency Mode reduces the maximum frame queue depth — the number of pre-rendered frames the CPU prepares for the GPU. 'Ultra' caps this at 1, the lowest possible, which reduces input lag in competitive games by 8-15ms compared to the default 'Off' setting. The trade-off is potentially slightly lower average FPS in CPU-limited scenarios. Worth it for competitive shooters; less critical for single-player AAA where smooth frame pacing matters more than raw latency.

Should I leave V-Sync on or off?

Off if you have a G-Sync compatible monitor — let G-Sync handle screen tearing. The G-Sync variable refresh keeps your refresh rate synced to your frame rate within the VRR range, eliminating tearing without the latency cost of V-Sync. If you don't have G-Sync/FreeSync, then V-Sync 'On' prevents tearing but adds 10-30ms latency. NVIDIA's 'Fast Sync' is a middle-ground option for non-VRR monitors but rarely worth using over G-Sync compatible alternatives.

How do I set up G-Sync in NVIDIA Control Panel?

Display → Set Up G-Sync in the left sidebar. Tick 'Enable G-Sync, G-Sync Compatible'. Select 'Enable for windowed and full screen mode'. Apply changes. Then go to Manage 3D Settings → Global → Monitor Technology and select 'G-Sync Compatible'. Set V-Sync to 'On' globally (G-Sync works within the VRR range; V-Sync acts as a fail-safe above max refresh). Cap your FPS to 3 below your monitor refresh rate using NVIDIA Control Panel's Max Frame Rate setting — this keeps you in the G-Sync range for guaranteed tear-free gameplay.

What is Threaded Optimisation and should it be on?

Threaded Optimisation distributes graphics driver work across multiple CPU cores. Default is 'Auto' which works correctly for most games. Setting it explicitly to 'On' guarantees multi-core use and can improve performance in CPU-limited scenarios. Setting to 'Off' is only needed for very old games (pre-2010) that have threading bugs with NVIDIA drivers. Modern recommendation: set to 'On' globally.

How often should I update my NVIDIA drivers?

Every 2-3 months, or whenever a new AAA title launches that you play. NVIDIA's Game Ready drivers include game-specific optimisations that often deliver 5-10% FPS gains on launch-day titles. Skip the Studio drivers unless you do significant content creation (they're optimised for stability in DaVinci, Blender, After Effects). Use the NVIDIA App for automatic update notifications, but always create a system restore point before installing a new driver in case of regression.

Gaming Performance · NVIDIA

How to optimise NVIDIA Control Panel for gaming — Twelve settings. Free FPS. Five minutes.

NVIDIA Control Panel hasn't changed visually since 2009, but the right twelve settings will deliver 5-15% more in-game FPS and significantly smoother frame pacing — without changing a single in-game graphics option. The "Optimal Power" default alone is costing you 3-7% on every title. Here's exactly what to flip.

8 min read
Updated May 2026
Reviewed by Evetech Hardware Team

By the end of this guide, you'll have applied the global 3D settings most pro builders use, set up G-Sync correctly, configured per-game profiles for competitive titles, and know when to use the NVIDIA App vs Control Panel for what.

settings to change: 12
FPS gain: 5-15%
profiles supported: Per-game

Optimize NVIDIA Control Panel — Dial in your GPU.

Why these settings matter

NVIDIA Control Panel ships with default settings tuned for compatibility, not performance. The defaults are intentionally conservative — they prioritise battery life on laptops, stability on legacy applications and "do no harm" behaviour for users who never open the Control Panel.

For a desktop gaming PC plugged into mains power, those defaults leave meaningful performance on the table. The Power Management default ("Optimal Power") keeps your GPU at lower clock speeds whenever it judges that's acceptable — which costs you frame rate in nearly every game. The default Low Latency Mode ("Off") allows the CPU to queue multiple frames ahead, which improves average FPS marginally but adds 8-15ms of input lag — a significant penalty in competitive titles.

The twelve key settings below will deliver, in aggregate, 5-15% higher in-game FPS in typical AAA titles, plus measurably lower input latency. None of these changes risk stability — they're the same settings you'd find on the test benches of any professional system integrator (including ours at Evetech). The whole process takes 5-7 minutes the first time you do it.

Where to find NVIDIA Control Panel in Windows 11

There are three ways to open NVIDIA Control Panel:

Right-click desktop → "Show more options" (Windows 11) → "NVIDIA Control Panel." Most reliable method.
Start menu search: type "NVIDIA Control Panel" and click the result. Works on most installations.
System tray icon: right-click the NVIDIA green-eye logo in the system tray → "NVIDIA Control Panel."

If NVIDIA Control Panel is missing, install it from Microsoft Store (free, by NVIDIA Corporation) — Windows 11 fresh installs sometimes don't ship the Control Panel even after installing the GPU driver. Both NVIDIA Control Panel and the newer NVIDIA App should be installed; they coexist and handle different things.

Global 3D settings — the 12 key changes

NVIDIA Global 3D settings — The 12 key changes.

In Manage 3D Settings, the Global Settings tab applies to every application unless overridden by a per-game profile. Below are the changes that produce measurable FPS, latency or visual quality benefits.

Setting	Recommended value	What it does
Image Sharpening	On (Sharpen 0.50, Ignore Film Grain 0.17)	Adds clarity to older titles without DLSS support
Anisotropic Filtering	16x	Sharp distant textures, near-zero perf cost on modern GPUs
Antialiasing — FXAA	Off	Modern games use better in-engine AA; FXAA blurs
Antialiasing — Gamma Correction	Off	Only used by legacy AA modes
Background Application Max Frame Rate	60 (desktop) / 30 (laptop)	Limits FPS when game is minimised — saves power/heat
Low Latency Mode	Ultra	Caps pre-rendered frames at 1; -8-15ms input lag
Max Frame Rate	Monitor max refresh minus 3	Keeps gameplay inside G-Sync VRR range
Monitor Technology	G-Sync Compatible (if applicable)	Sets VRR signalling for your monitor
Power Management Mode	Prefer Maximum Performance	Keeps GPU at higher clocks; +3-7% FPS every game
Preferred Refresh Rate	Highest available	Forces highest refresh in fullscreen exclusive games
Texture Filtering — Quality	High Performance	Slightly faster texture sampling, no visible quality loss
Threaded Optimisation	On	Multi-core driver work, helps CPU-limited games
Triple Buffering	Off	Only matters with V-Sync; adds latency
Vertical Sync	Off (with G-Sync) / On (without VRR)	G-Sync handles tearing better than V-Sync
Virtual Reality pre-rendered frames	1	Minimum latency for VR titles

The Power Management setting deserves its own paragraph

If you change only one setting in NVIDIA Control Panel, change Power Management Mode to "Prefer Maximum Performance." The default "Optimal Power" is excellent for laptops on battery — it keeps the GPU at lower clock speeds when the driver thinks max performance isn't needed, saving battery and reducing heat. On a desktop plugged into mains power, this default actively costs you frames in every game.

The fix delivers 3-7% more FPS in typical AAA titles, and significantly more (10-15%) in games that quickly load and unload assets (open-world titles, multiplayer arena shooters). The trade-off: marginally higher GPU power draw at idle and during light gaming. On a 750W PSU desktop build, this is irrelevant.

Low Latency Mode "Ultra" for competitive games

NVIDIA Low Latency Mode Ultra — Ultra for competitive.

Low Latency Mode Ultra caps the GPU's pre-render queue at 1 frame. Without it (default "Off"), the CPU may queue 2-3 frames ahead, smoothing average FPS slightly but adding noticeable input lag — your mouse movement reaches the screen 8-15ms later than it could.

For competitive shooters (CS2, Valorant, Apex, Marvel Rivals), Ultra is the right pick — the latency reduction matters more than the marginal FPS smoothness lost. For single-player titles with frame pacing as the priority (RPGs, racing sims), "On" is a milder option that caps at 2 frames. Set Ultra globally; the only games that prefer "Off" are heavily CPU-limited strategy titles, which you can override per-game.

Frame rate cap to stay in G-Sync range

If you have a G-Sync compatible monitor, set Max Frame Rate to 3 below your monitor's maximum refresh rate. For a 240Hz monitor, cap at 237 FPS. For a 144Hz monitor, cap at 141. Why?

G-Sync variable refresh works within a refresh-rate range, not above the monitor's maximum. When your game FPS exceeds the maximum, G-Sync stops doing its tear-prevention work and your screen reverts to behaving like a fixed-refresh monitor. Tearing returns. Capping FPS 3 below max keeps you guaranteed inside the G-Sync range, where every frame is tear-free.

Per-game profile tab

The Manage 3D Settings → Program Settings tab lets you override global settings per game. Useful for games with specific quirks — competitive titles where you want different latency settings than single-player, older games that don't like Threaded Optimisation, or VR titles that need their own preset.

Recommended per-game profiles:

Counter-Strike 2: Low Latency Mode "Ultra," Max Frame Rate "Off" (cap in-game instead), Power Management "Prefer Maximum Performance," Vertical Sync "Off."
Valorant: Same as CS2 — competitive shooter latency priority.
Cyberpunk 2077: Use defaults from Global (DLSS handles everything in-game), Max Frame Rate matches monitor.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024: Threaded Optimisation "On," Texture Filtering "Quality" (not High Performance — distant textures matter).
VR titles (Half-Life Alyx, MSFS VR): Virtual Reality pre-rendered frames "1," Max Frame Rate "Off," Power Management "Maximum Performance."
Older Unreal Engine 3/4 games: If you experience stuttering, try Threaded Optimisation "Off" per-game.

How to add a per-game profile: Program Settings tab → "1. Select a program to customize" dropdown → if the game isn't in the list, click "Add" and browse to the game executable (usually under Program Files or your Steam library). Then change settings as needed; Apply at the bottom.

Display setup — G-Sync and HDR

Set Up G-Sync correctly

Display → Set Up G-Sync in the left sidebar opens the variable refresh rate configuration:

Tick "Enable G-Sync, G-Sync Compatible." Mandatory.
Select "Enable for windowed and full screen mode." Some borderless-window games benefit from this; cost zero.
Select your monitor in the bottom list and tick "Enable settings for the selected display model" (this saves the per-monitor preference).
Apply.

Then in Manage 3D Settings → Global → Monitor Technology, set G-Sync Compatible. Also set Vertical Sync to "On" — this provides a fail-safe above the G-Sync range; combined with the Max Frame Rate cap, you won't actually hit this fail-safe in practice but it's defence in depth.

HDR setup

If your monitor supports HDR (HDR10 minimum, ideally DisplayHDR 600+):

Display → Adjust HDR in NVIDIA Control Panel.
Toggle HDR On for your monitor.
Set HDR brightness using the slider — most users want 800-1500 nits target depending on monitor.
Calibrate using Windows HDR Calibration App (free from Microsoft Store) for proper paper-white and clip points.

HDR is best enabled per-monitor rather than globally — desktop work in HDR can look washed out or oversaturated on cheaper HDR monitors. Toggle HDR on only when actively gaming or watching HDR content. Windows 11 has a quick toggle in the Settings → Display panel.

NVIDIA App vs Control Panel — when to use which

NVIDIA released the NVIDIA App in 2024 to replace the ageing GeForce Experience (GFE). Both NVIDIA App and Control Panel coexist in 2026, handling different things.

Function	NVIDIA Control Panel	NVIDIA App
Global 3D settings	Use this	—
Per-game profile overrides	Use this	—
Display setup (G-Sync, HDR, resolution)	Use this	—
Driver updates and rollback	—	Use this
Game Optimal Settings (auto-tune)	—	Use this
ShadowPlay / Game recording	—	Use this
In-game overlay (Alt+Z)	—	Use this
Game Filters (FreeStyle)	—	Use this
NVIDIA Broadcast (mic noise removal, virtual bg)	—	Use this
Streaming setup (Twitch, YouTube)	—	Use this

Don't skip the NVIDIA App. The in-game overlay (Alt+Z by default) provides instant access to ShadowPlay recording (the "Save last 30 seconds" instant-replay feature is excellent for clipping highlights), and the driver update notifications are the easiest way to stay current. Game Filters let you adjust contrast, saturation and sharpness mid-game without alt-tabbing — useful for darkened titles or competitive scenarios.

Optimal Settings (formerly GFE auto-tune) in the NVIDIA App applies a starter graphics preset to supported games based on your GPU. It's a reasonable starting point if you're not sure how to balance settings in a new title — but it overrides any custom in-game settings you've set. Manual is better; Optimal is fine for first-time launches.

Driver update strategy

NVIDIA ships two driver branches:

Game Ready Driver (GRD). Released alongside major game launches. Includes game-specific optimisations that can deliver 5-10% FPS gains on launch-day titles. This is the default for gaming PCs.
Studio Driver (SD). Released less frequently, prioritises stability in content creation applications (DaVinci Resolve, Blender, Adobe Creative Cloud, OBS). Use Studio if your PC is primarily for content creation; otherwise stick with Game Ready.

Update cadence: every 2-3 months, or whenever you launch a major new AAA title. NVIDIA App's driver update notifications are reliable; click "Express Installation" to keep your existing settings.

Before updating:

Create a System Restore point (Windows search "Create a restore point") — 30 seconds, lets you roll back if the new driver regresses performance in a title you play.
Close active games and recordings.
Don't update mid-tournament. Wait for a quiet evening.

When to roll back: if a new driver causes stuttering, crashes or significantly lower FPS in titles you played fine yesterday. Roll back via the NVIDIA App's "Installed driver" → "Uninstall." For truly stubborn driver issues, use DDU in Safe Mode for a clean uninstall, then install a known-good older driver from NVIDIA's website.

Common NVIDIA Control Panel mistakes

Leaving Power Management on "Optimal Power." The single biggest cost-free FPS leak. "Prefer Maximum Performance" globally is the right choice for any desktop.

Maxing every setting to "Quality." Texture Filtering Quality at "High Quality" instead of "High Performance" costs 1-2% FPS for no visible quality benefit at 1440p or 4K. NVIDIA's "High Performance" is already very high quality — the naming is misleading.

Enabling FXAA globally. FXAA is a post-process anti-aliasing that blurs the entire image, including text and UI. Modern games have better in-engine AA (TAA, DLAA, DLSS). Leave FXAA off globally.

Not setting Max Frame Rate. Without an FPS cap, you'll bounce above your G-Sync range in less demanding scenes, causing tearing. Cap 3 below monitor refresh.

Confusing G-Sync, G-Sync Compatible and G-Sync Ultimate. All three work with NVIDIA cards. G-Sync (hardware module) and G-Sync Ultimate (certified high-bandwidth) are increasingly rare premium options. G-Sync Compatible (the FreeSync certification programme) is the standard in 2026 — works fine, costs much less.

Updating drivers without a restore point. Maybe 1 in 30 driver updates regresses performance in a specific title. The restore point takes 30 seconds and saves you a 2-hour reinstall headache when it happens.

Treating the NVIDIA App as optional. The in-game overlay, ShadowPlay and driver update notifications make it worth the install. The Optimal Settings auto-tune is the bonus.

Key takeaways

Power Management Mode = "Prefer Maximum Performance" is the single highest-impact change. 3-7% FPS in every game.
Low Latency Mode = "Ultra" for competitive shooters; "On" for single-player. Reduces input lag 8-15ms.
Set up G-Sync correctly, then cap Max Frame Rate 3 below monitor max refresh — keeps you tear-free.
Use NVIDIA Control Panel for settings + display, NVIDIA App for drivers + overlay + recording. They're complementary.
Update Game Ready drivers every 2-3 months. Create a system restore point first. Roll back if a title regresses.

Frequently asked questions

How much FPS will I gain from optimising NVIDIA Control Panel?
5-15% higher FPS in typical AAA titles plus smoother frame pacing. The biggest single contributor is Power Management Mode = Prefer Maximum Performance (3-7% on every game).
What is the most important NVIDIA Control Panel setting?
Power Management Mode = "Prefer Maximum Performance" instead of the default "Optimal Power." Delivers 3-7% more FPS in every game on a desktop plugged into mains power.
Should I use NVIDIA Control Panel or NVIDIA App?
Both — they're complementary. Control Panel for global 3D settings, display setup, per-game profiles. NVIDIA App for driver updates, in-game overlay, ShadowPlay recording, Game Filters, streaming.
What does Low Latency Mode Ultra do?
Caps the GPU's pre-render frame queue at 1, reducing input latency 8-15ms vs default "Off." Trade-off: slightly less smooth average FPS in CPU-limited scenarios. Worth it for competitive shooters.
Should I leave V-Sync on or off?
Off if you have a G-Sync compatible monitor — let G-Sync handle tearing. On if you don't have any VRR (FreeSync/G-Sync). Combine V-Sync On + G-Sync as a fail-safe above max refresh.
How do I set up G-Sync in NVIDIA Control Panel?
Display → Set Up G-Sync. Enable G-Sync Compatible. Enable for windowed and full screen. In 3D Settings → Monitor Technology = G-Sync Compatible. Cap Max Frame Rate 3 below monitor max refresh.
What is Threaded Optimisation and should it be on?
Distributes driver work across multiple CPU cores. Set to "On" globally. Only set to "Off" per-game for very old titles (pre-2010) that have threading bugs.
How often should I update my NVIDIA drivers?
Every 2-3 months, or whenever you launch a major new AAA title. Game Ready drivers contain game-specific optimisations. Always create a System Restore point before updating.

Related guides

AMD: How to Optimise AMD Adrenalin Software — Radeon settings for max FPS, the AMD equivalent of this guide.
Windows: How to Optimise Windows 11 for Gaming — Game Mode, HAGS, focus assist, the OS-side tweaks.
Upscaling: DLSS Explained — Should You Use It? NVIDIA's AI upscaler, 30-50% free FPS with quality preserved.
Per-game: DLSS & FSR — Per-Game Settings. Exactly what to enable in 30 popular SA titles.